Soccer Genius Wants to Get Noticed - Chapter 128



Only Krnovel

Episode 128: When the name is revealed (1)

Just after the final whistle blew.

As the 28th round of the Bundesliga ended with a 1-2 upset loss for Union Berlin, the home fans left the stadium as if they had been waiting for it.

I’m sitting in the middle of the stadium… …getting a massage from Mark Ut.

“I knew this would happen. I thought he was moving around a lot for someone who had been all the way to Asia, but what the heck is this after only running for 10 minutes?”

“If you’re going to nag, then stop. You won thanks to me.”

“Stop it. Does that stinging pain resonate deep inside your bones?”

“… … No. Not inside. I think it’s just a muscle spasm.”

“Anyway, you bastard, ugh. I told you, you’re not an easy target. I should have ended it at my own risk so that you wouldn’t have to run around in the first place. You left me no choice but to shove it in… … .”

Despite clear indications of intent, the meerkat’s nagging doesn’t stop.

Even though the team doctor, Klein Cooper, came running in out of breath and said it didn’t seem to be a serious injury, it was the same.

“… … It’s exactly the same as before. Huh? You should mix in some teamwork too. Why are you bragging about your individual skills just because you’ve been to Korea once?”

“But it worked out well.”

“Yanma, is this the last game of the league? It’s already April. It’s one of the most important times of the season, so what would have happened if you had gotten injured?”

“I appreciate your concern, but I also have my own way-”

“Worried? Worried~huh?”

Hmm, am I right to be worried?

As the team doctor smiles faintly, he raises the banner of ‘correcting the mistakes of promising players as a pillar of Cologne’.

That’s bullshit.

“Everything is good, but let’s make this clear. I am the pillar of Cologne.”

“Ha, you’re doing quite well, but considering your playing time and overall contribution-”

“I scored multiple goals today?”

“That’s it-”

“I’ll be doing the interview too?”

“… … Yes, your shit is thick, no, it’s really thick! Okay?”

“Yeah. Thanks for the compliment.”

“… … .”

“Hanul!”

“Ja!”

Just then, the head coach’s call comes, and the argument between the two ends with my victory. What I overlooked was… … that Meerkat’s competitive spirit was truly fierce.

* * *

The game ended at around 7:10.

So the coaching staff decided to go straight back instead of staying another day in Berlin. The bus ride back was… … incredibly noisy.

“… … The interviewer asked, “Your ability to break down the opposing defense was amazing. After the game, you talked to your designated defender, Paul Yeckel. What did you talk about?”

“… … .”

“Then the team’s pillar said, I wanted to get revenge for what I had suffered in the first half of the game. I encouraged Paul Jekkel with respect for each other. I told him, I used my skills quite a bit, but I’m still the best! The best! Jekkel below Hanul! Berlin below Cologne!”

Let’s put the issue of manners aside for now.

Are you really out of your mind?

“No, when did I say that? Don’t add on without permission!”

“Additionally, that can’t be. Even if the way you say it is different, the meaning is the same, right?”

“… … It’s similar, isn’t it?”

“As expected, the interview is worthy of the team’s pillar. But that’s not all.”

Despite the irritated response, the meerkat, whose madness has fully taken hold, displays the post-match interview scene on his cell phone screen.

Actually, I couldn’t see the screen because it was right in front of me, but I could easily guess because the speaker volume was turned up high.

[… … He was called up to the Korean national team at a time when there was no news about his scoring, and he showed a clearly different side in today’s game. This has reignited the competition for the scoring title. Did his time on the national team have an effect?]

[Hmm… … It was a different experience in many ways. The tactical framework was similar, but there were big differences in the detailed tactics. Also, I was influenced quite positively by meeting new players. I only played in Cologne, right? I think it was meaningful to experience various playing styles and try to adapt to them.]

Oh my, what is this?

Rather, I can only feel admiration.

Before going into the interview, I tried to be careful with what I said, as head coach Andre Pollock had warned me to do, but after it was all over, I felt relieved to hear it myself.

I’m pretty good, right?

It seemed like I was learning more and more as I did more interviews.

“Oh, wait a minute.”

“… … ?”

That was when.

[You just said there was a difference from Cologne. What impressed you the most about the Korean national team?]

[Impressive? Well.]

[For example, something I really want to introduce in Cologne.]

[ah.]

“……ah.”

For a moment, the same words flowed out on the screen and in reality, but their meanings were different. The former meant, “That’s a good question,” but what came out of my mouth implied, “Fuck,” or “Oops!”

[The bathroom was nice.]

[restroom?]

[Yeah. I went to the NFC in Paju, and there were six ventilation fans hanging from the ceiling. There was even a bucket hanging next to the toilet. When I put my hand in there, liquid came out. What the heck? At first, I wondered what it was. But then I found out that it was there to disinfect the toilet cover. You spray it on toilet paper and wipe it. Isn’t that amazing?]

[Hmm, uh… … That’s strange. I like how clean the bathroom is.]

[Yeah. It’s not like the Cologne training ground was dirty, but it was really cozy, like a hotel. It was on a level that couldn’t be simply defined as ‘clean.’ If they hadn’t given me a place to stay, I might’ve just slept there.]

Hehe.

My face turned red for a moment from the laughter that erupted from both sides, but I raised my voice and retorted.

“What is this? What’s wrong with the bathroom? If I’m at fault, it’s only for being honest. Honestly, it’s true that there’s no disinfectant in the bathrooms in Cologne. I’ve never seen anything like it in Germany.”

“Oh really? Since it came to this, why don’t you just say you slept in the bathroom?”

“… … .”

I have nothing to say.

Who would have thought that someone over 30 could be so petty?

It seemed like Koraksoni, who kept attacking me by nitpicking, was taking out his poor performance today on me.

“But you can’t deny that Hanul did well, right? He even scored the equalizer and the winning goal.”

Of course, there are those who have an objective point of view. Soon, Schmitz, Schiri, Remperle, and others poured out praise one after another.

“I think the same. Even if you lead the game, you need to have a player who can make decisions. As for the interview… … Hanul usually expresses himself in a unique way, but I don’t think it’s a bad story. I heard he was put in as a front-line striker for the national team? It must have helped him regain his confidence.”

“That’s right. Sometimes when I watch him, it seems like he scores goals really easily.”

Well, this is it.

One after another, Ut tries to provoke me by making me retch, but once he sees his colleagues’ reactions, it has no effect.

Because everyone recognizes that I’m good at something.

And that fact… … had an impact in places I never thought of.

* * *

Sunday morning.

At a local Korean church in Cologne, the pastor is giving a sermon.

“The fact that we can overcome trials by coming together before the Holy Word is the right way to go… … .”

Because I was reluctantly dragged out during the time I should have been resting, my head kept dropping to the floor.

“… … Lastly, our player Seong Ha-neul. I would like to offer a prayer of thanks for Ha-neul’s safe return to Cologne. Thank you for accepting the call of the Republic of Korea and dedicating yourself to the glory of the nation… … .”

Why all of a sudden?

Although you have prayed for the Korean community in Korea and Cologne and for Sung Ha-jun, you have never once called my name.

Stepping onto the national team seemed to have a greater impact than I had imagined.

“amen!”

“… … .”

amen.

Soon after, I muttered to myself, thinking that the loud voices of those around me would be enough. I added something that I couldn’t say out loud.

If God is satisfied with my actions or appearance, and if He is willing to grant one of my wishes,

If possible, rather than the glory of the country or my own safety, I want you to do something about Sung Ha-jun, who has already been ruined.

Glance.

Then, as I looked at the wheelchair next to me, I saw Sung Ha-jun dozing off, as if someone might think he was my older brother.

No, a wish is a wish… …Why are you sleeping so openly?

Even though I’m tired, I’m not more tired!

So I tried tapping the wheelchair wheel with my toe… … .

“… … Holy Sky.”

I just ended up getting my mom’s disapproving glare for no reason.

* * *

The change in relationships becomes more evident after the church service. With the national team call-up, dozens of requests or favors increase.

“Sister, can I ask Haneul for an interview?”

“Interview?”

“Yeah. It’s not something secular, but they said they wanted to come and do a quick interview for a local Korean newspaper. I thought it would be a good opportunity for Haneul, too. I told Haneul that I would talk to her mom.”

“That’s a bit… … .”

“Don’t be like that. Think about it. Okay?”

Starting with a request for an interview with a local newspaper.

“Which school did Haneul go to?”

“This is the Hinggen Wildegard Gymnasium.”

“Oh, that’s right. I’m really worried because my child is having trouble adjusting to school these days. If he transfers schools, would you be able to help him? It would be nice if he could be friends with other Korean kids.”

Following a straightforward request for help from a Korean gathering –

“Now, the sky has to come out regularly, right? It might be hard, but try to make some time. Shouldn’t you be an example to others?”

Even going so far as to subtly force people to stamp their attendance every week.

Even before I was called up to the national team, I had shown interest, but not to this extent. Now that she has crossed the line from being a ‘mother’ to being my own, there’s nothing I can do.

I have no choice but to openly reject it.

“I can’t come out on game days.”

“Hmm… … You don’t have to come out only on Sundays.”

“It’s not like I can’t come out on game days either.”

“… … Ahem, really? I feel so sorry for you, sir.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“… … .”

I don’t know if it would be different if he was a pastor or an elder, but even though the restaurant owner (he was famous for running two Korean restaurants in Cologne) made a disappointed expression, I didn’t feel anything.

Then, suddenly, in one corner of the church yard, my eyes met with Sung Ha-jun, who was sitting in a wheelchair with an expression on his face as if he had seen everything in the world.

He looked around with his deeply sunken eyes, wondering what he was thinking, and then beckoned to me.

“……why.”

The tone is blunt and blunt.

He had a fight before being called up to the national team, and he had a really displeased expression on his face.

“let’s go.”

“Where are you going? It’s still far from the end. I’m sure you’ll have lunch before you go.”

I nod towards my mother and respond.

“Then should we just leave it alone?”

“… … .”

“Mom, I’ve been struggling with my body aching all this time. If your problem is added to it, I won’t be able to come to my senses.”

It’s not that my mom is being swept up in the middle of the Korean community.

Swaying, swaying, wavering.

“Let’s go home before things get worse. It’s better for you, for me, and for Mom. Don’t you think so?”

“… … It’s been a while since you said something right.”

Regardless of the feelings between each other, it is the right choice to confront an external enemy, and then immediately start thinking about how to escape.

Seong Ha-jun and I lock eyes without saying who speaks first.

“Brother, are you sick?”

“It hurts.”

“Where?”

“My nerves are tingling. I think I need to go home and take some medicine.”

“Okay, but you can’t say anything below the waist.”

“Do I look like a cripple?”

“… … .”

“… … .”

Let’s take a moment to think carefully about the other person’s foolish remarks.

What was important now was that they both thought the same thing.